4th Commonwealth Public Service Ministers Forum: Statement

25 October 2012
News

The Role of Public Administration in Economic Growth and Job Creation

At the 4th Commonwealth Public Service Ministers Forum held in New Delhi, India, from 24 to 26 October 2012, ministers and heads of public service from 21 countries met on the theme,The Role of Public Administration in Economic Growth and Job Creation.

  1. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of public administration and agreed that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 in Sri Lanka should consider the elevation of the Commonwealth Public Service Ministers Forum to a ministerial level meeting, scheduled annually if feasible. The aim is to deepen and broaden the dialogue and the sharing of knowledge, experiences and best-fit practices to build excellence in public administration.
  2. Ministers agreed on the important role of public policy in improving governance and strengthening public administration in support of national development objectives and to meet international challenges. They acknowledged the need for developing countries, in particular, to address challenges posed by a globalised economy, the competitiveness of markets and the capability of member countries to retain their comparative advantage.
  3. Ministers agreed that an efficient and effective public administration can enhance the role of just and honest government which can spur socio-economic and political development, leading to the transformation of societies.
  4. Ministers welcomed the proposal by the Government of India to host an annual Commonwealth Symposium on Public Service Excellence from 2013 to be held in India, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
  5. 5. Ministers agreed on the important and useful role of the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth networks to further strengthen the governance capabilities of member states to meet their development priorities.
  6. Ministers also acknowledged the value of using information and communication technologies such as the Commonwealth Connects online platform to build peer networks of influence for collaborative working and knowledge-sharing.

New Delhi, India, 26 October 2012